Improvement in fire-plugs



F. LATTA.

Fire-Pliug's. No. 130,726.. Patented Aug. 20,4872.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FINLEY LATTA, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO.

IMPROVEMENT IN FIRE-PLUGS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. l30,7i26, dated August 20, 1872.

Specilcation of a Sectional Extension Fire- Hydrant, invented by FINLEY LATTA, of Oincinnati, Hamilton county, Ohio.

. Nature and Objects of the Invent/0a.

This is an improved form of those hydrants commonly called fire-plugs,which have a sliding head capable of being drawn above the ground-surface for the purpose of attachment to the nose or nozzle, and, when no longer required, of being depressed so as not to project above the ground. For this purpose I employ one or more sliding heads or sections, whose elevation operates to open and whose depression operates to close the water-way, the labor of opening and of closing being unaffected by the water pressure.

Description with Reference to the Drawing.

Figure 1 is a side view of my hre-hydrant in its closed condition. Fig. 2 is an axial section ot said hydrant, one of the sliding sections being shown in the elevated position. Fig. 3 is a horizontal section in the plane .r x. Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the upper part of the column.

A represents a common T-section of watermain; B, the neck of same, having a seat, C, for a customaryvalve, D, which may be opened and closed by a screw-threaded stem, E, or by any other usual or approved means. The seat C is provided with a`waste-way cock, G, of usual form. Bolted to land rising `from the neck B and seat O is my column, H, which column terminates in a square or other polygonal head, I, from whose angles project cheeks, K, forming recesses, K, which receive as many segmental tubular sliding sections, L, whose ilat sides are presented inward, and have near their lower ends orifices, M, which, in the elevated positionof the sections, communicate with similar orifices, N, through the head I. The orifices N are surrounded by rubber or leather gaskets or cushions, O, which are firmly secured to the head and constitute water-tight seats for the sliding sections. Encircling the sections L and the cheeks J in the plane of the openings N, and shrunk or otherwise secured firmly upon said cheeks, is a band, P, of wrought or malleable iron or of brass, which baud receives in the line of the said openings as many set-screws, Q, which enable the sections to be pressed with sufcient force upon the cushions O to prevent any leakage of water. The convex (outer) sides of the sections have near their tops screw-necked orices, K, for the attachment of an ordinary hose or nozzle. Studs, S, that project from said convex sides of sections near the lower ends, arrest at the proper point the elevation of the sections. v

The above-described preferred form of my invention may be modiiied in non-essential particulars. For example, the contiguous surffaces of the head and section being ground face to face, theV gasket may be dispensed with. When this plan is resorted to a brass ring may be screwed or brazed4 into 'the head around the aperture, and have a ground tting with the contiguous face of the section, which in that case will be of brass or other non-corrodin g metal; or, when onlyone or two sliding sections are employed, a straight bar may take the place of the band I.

Claim.

'y EINLEY LATTA.

Attest GEo. H. KNIGHT, JAMES H. LAYMAN. 

